Combination of Light Emitting Diode at 375 nm and Photo-reactive TiO2 Layer Prepared by Electrostatic Spraying for Sterilization

The objective of this work was to increase the efficiency of ultraviolet-light emitting diodes at 375 nm for sterilization. Since $TiO_2$ had antibacterial properties, which were attributed to the appearance of hydroxyl radicals and superoxide radical anions on the surface species under ultra violet radiation at about 387 nm, photo-reactive layers such as Ag-doped $TiO_2$ were coated on aluminum substrates by electrostatic spraying. Crystallinity and surface morphology of the coating layer were examined by X-ray diffraction ${\theta}-2{\theta}$ scan and field emission-scanning electron microscope, respectively. In an antibacterial test, we observed above 99% reduction of Escherichia coli populations on 3 or 5 mol% Ag-doped $TiO_2$ layers after irradiation for 2 hrs at 375 nm, while very low inactivation on bare aluminum substrates occurred after irradiation as the same condition.